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The Re-Use Centre is located at the Collection Centre Tuncovec in the vicinity of Rogaška Slatina. It is intended for renovation, restoration, dismantling and preparation of the still-useful products for re-use. At the Centre you can turn in old items (for example furniture), which would otherwise be thrown away. Employees (the centre trains and employs unemployed persons from vulnerable target groups) will examine, repair and rebuild them for further sale at a symbolic price. Should you be interested in purchasing them, you can view the selection of the Re-Use Centre at the Collection Centre Tuncovec.

Video Report – Abandoned Furniture Finds a New Home

Video transcript

The Pastirk family from the Slovenske Konjice area found themselves with some unwanted furniture that they wanted to throw away: a massive wooden table, a dresser, a footstool and two chairs.

Miro Pastirk, used furniture donor:I appreciate antiques, but my wife wants some new furniture. It would be a waste throwing this away.

He decided to call the Re-Use Centre in Rogaška Slatina, where they were glad to receive such a donation.

Marinka Vovk, Director of the Technology Centre for Applied Ecology: Re-use – the word itself implies that it pertains to products that were intended to be thrown away. But because today we have enormous quantities various still useful items, they are all too often deposited at waste collection points. Our idea was to create something innovative. We wanted to re-route the flow of used furniture and equipment, which we cannot call junk, as we know it isn’t. The items we receive are restored and certain details are added, especially those that stimulate thinking and creativity, resulting in fully functional items.

Miro Pastirk, used furniture donor:They will not be forgotten. They will fix them up real nice, so someone else can have them in the future. I have no more use for them.

Mr. Miro handed the furniture over to the employees at the collection centre, who brought it to their workshop. Here, they first assess the condition of the donated items.

Marinka Vovk, Director of the Technology Centre for Applied Ecology:First we assess what to do with them, how much repair is required, what must be additionally purchased, etc. Sometimes all you need to do is wipe the dust away and the item is already functional.

Franc Križan, employee at the Re-Use Centre:This table is 80 to 100 years old and is in a really bad shape. However, I will fix it, make it like new again. We are going to shave this, leach it and apply two or three layers of varnish, as many as required.

The three workers will require almost a week to do that. In addition to conserving resources, the purpose of the Re-Use Centre is to create new jobs. Currently, they are employing four hard-to-place workers.

Marinka Vovk, Director of the Technology Centre for Applied Ecology:Meaning those, who lost their jobs for various reasons. They are older than 50 years or younger than 25, with basic or no education and with very slim chances of getting a job. However, they are motivated, they like to work and they are reliable. They basically comprise our two target groups.

When the furniture is restored, it is brought to the sales department.

Marinka Vovk, Director of the Technology Centre for Applied Ecology:Then the head of the department sets the price based on how much additional material and man-hours had to be invested, so the prices are linked to our operative costs. The prices are otherwise symbolic as our aim is not to sell at market price, but at a symbolic one.

In addition, every product has its own green price.

Marinka Vovk, Director of the Technology Centre for Applied Ecology:We calculate and display how much water is saved because this product isn’t made out of new materials, how much less energy and CO2 was used because it wasn’t transported here from China, for example.

Mr. Miro’s furniture is now waiting for a new owner. But not for long.

Milena Rozman, used furniture aficionado:They’re very well preserved, especially the table and chairs, as is the footstool. But the most important thing is that they remind me of my youth. My husband and I need some furniture. We heard about this centre and when I came here I found that they have some nice and useful items at budget prices. In addition, I am ecologically aware.

So Mrs. Milena took home with her a quaint table, a dresser, two chairs, and a footstool. As she says, primarily for her pleasure. But the items will have a new purpose as well.

Milena Rozman, used furniture aficionado:This can be used as an office table or a computer table. It doesn’t have to be a new one from the shop. It’s very interesting and I like it better than new furniture.

Other buyers are also excited about the products found at the Re-Use Centre.

Marinka Vovk, Director of the Technology Centre for Applied Ecology:Occasionally we almost run out of everything. This also shows that people today don’t have enough money to shop in expensive shopping centres. The equipment sold here might not be new, but is quality equipment; there’s nothing here that would be damaged or non-functional.

Across Europe, such centres are well known, quite common and popular. Initially they were unsure of what response to expect in Slovenia, but they were pleasantly surprised. The buyers are coming back for a number of reasons, not just due to low prices.

Milena Rozman, used furniture aficionado:Absolutely. We live in the vicinity, they have interesting things for sale and the employees are friendly and helpful, so I feel very good there.

They want to extend the network of collection centres across the whole state. In the near future they are planning to open another centre in Poljčane.